About the Project
Mississippi Public Health Institute and its partners are working to reduce medically unnecessary cesarean births, providing community-based support to pregnant and postpartum women, and decreasing adverse maternal health outcomes through specially trained doulas. Anticipated project outcomes include:
Safe reduction of cesarean rates among women in Jackson, MS
Increased provider and community knowledge of the health risks associated with cesarean birth
Increased acceptance and utilization of doulas by health care providers and the priority population
The Jackson Safer Childbirth Experience is a member of the 2019 inaugural class of Safer Childbirth Cities, which supports ten projects in ten cities across the country to help end preventable maternal deaths. The initiative will reduce disparities by promoting health equity and will work with doulas and perinatal support workers to bolster the care support system around women during pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartum.
Safer Childbirth Cities Initiative
Safer Childbirth Cities Initiative aims to support community-based leaders in cities across the U.S. with a high burden of maternal mortality and morbidity to implement evidence-based interventions and innovative approaches to reverse the country’s maternal health trends. Launched in October 2018 by Merck for Mothers, Safer Childbirth Cities will foster local solutions that help cities become safer – and more equitable – places to give birth. Learn more
Mississippi Public Health Institute
MSPHI is a nonprofit entity established in June, 2011, to protect and improve the health and well-being of Mississippians. The organization is dedicated to developing partnerships that are committed to program innovation, the increase of health resources, education, health awareness, and applied research and policy. Learn more